'Revolution Summer'

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, July 5, 2009

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dvd cover REVOLUTION SUMMER

dvd cover REVOLUTION SUMMER

Photo: Amazon.com

'Revolution Summer'

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The value of a movie that captures its historical moment becomes clear after that historical moment has passed. "Revolution Summer" is part of a list of films from the middle of this decade - "V for Vendetta," "Bobby" and "Good Night and Good Luck" are others - that responded to an underlying sense that something was going haywire in America, that the current administration was abusing civil liberties in ways that, in other countries, have led to totalitarianism and fascism. "Revolution Summer" is a rough-looking but meticulously thought out film, about four young adults living in some San Francisco of the near future. Each responds in different ways to the soul-killing despair of living in a country without freedom or hope. A young woman tries to keep her spirits up, while two of the guys start planning some nebulously conceived terrorist attack. Meanwhile, another woman tries to obliterate her depression - and herself - in nonstop hedonism. As a disputation on the merits of armed revolution, versus minding your own business, "Revolution Summer" offers the obvious. But as a study of the psychological effects of totalitarianism - of the malaise and resentment and powerlessness that pervades every aspect of human interaction - this is an astute and valuable document from first-time director Miles Montalbano. Look for Lauren Fox as the depressed hedonist. Her performance shows a level of ability and concentration rarely encountered in a low-budget independent.